Method and apparatus for transfer ring articles

ABSTRACT

In a container closing method and apparatus, a cover member transferring device for transferring a cover member from a first location where a supply of cover members is provided to a second location where a product filled container body is to receive the transferred cover member for closing the same. A carrier is supported by a support frame and is movable relative thereto in a fixed path from adjacent the first location to adjacent the second location. A pick-up device is suitably carried by the carrier and is movable relative thereto, the carrier having means for extending the pick-up device therefrom adjacent the first location to pick up a cover member and thereafter return the pick-up device with a cover member thereon. The carrier is moved in the fixed path so that the pick-up device is moved adjacent the second location where the pick-up device is again extended adjacent the second location for depositing the cover member on a filled container body whereby the pick-up device can thereafter be retracted to be moved back to the first location for receiving another cover member in the same manner.

United States Patent [191 Bryan, Jr. et al.

[ 1 Jan. 23, 1973 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFER RING ARTICLES[75] Inventors: George D. Bryan, Jr., Mechanicsville; NicholasConstantino, Richmond, both of Va,

[73] Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company,

Richmond, Va.

[22] Filed: March 25, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 128,348

[52] U.S. Cl ..53/307, 53/282 [51] Int. Cl ..B65b 57/02, B65b 7/28 [58]Field of Search ..53/300, 307, 319, 373, 282, 53/303, 304, 306, 168;221/211, 262

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,600,138 6/1952 Tesch, Jr...53/304 X 2,954,900 10/1960 Brubaker ..221/211 3,111,798 11/1963 Weller53/306 3,293,823 12/1966 Anderson ..53/282 X 3,344,952 10/1967 lnman..221/221 X 3,354,813 11/1967 Meyer et al ..221/211 X 3,453,804 7/1969Taylor et a1 ..53/319 X 3,487,622 l/l970 Mueller ..53/282 3,629,98912/1971 Reinecke ..53/64 In a container closing method and apparatus, acover member transferring device for transferring a cover ABSTRACTmember from a first location where a supply of cover members is providedto a second location where a product filled container body is to receivethe transferred cover member for closing the same. A carrier issupported by a support frame and is movable relative thereto in a fixedpath from adjacent the first location to adjacent the second location. Apick-up device is suitably carried by the carrier and is movablerelative thereto, the carrier having means for extending the pick-updevice therefrom adjacent the first location to pick up a cover memberand thereafter return the pick-up device with a cover member thereon.The carrier is moved in the fixed path so that the pick-up device ismoved adjacent the second location where the pick-up device is againextended adjacent the second location for depositing the cover member ona filled container body whereby the pick-up device can thereafter beretracted to be moved back to the first location for receiving anothercover member in the same manner.

4 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJM 23 1975 SHEET 1 [1F 5 fZO . O II I FIGI INVENTORS GEORGE D. BRYAN, JR

FIGZ

NICHOLAS CONSTANTINO THEIR ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJAH 23 1973 SHEET 3 OF 5 Kmmm @m B fin mm IN VENTORS O m I T MN W A NT A W Yw A R BC J D P A EL I Mw a E eN Y B THEIR ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJANZB ma v 3.712,,023 SHEET 4 0F 5INVENTORS GEORGE D. BRYAN, JR.

NICHOLAS CONSTANTINO BY li flxm l iffM; wow

THEIR ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJAH23I975 3,712,023

sum 5 OF 5 INVENTORS GEORGE D. BRYAN JR. NICHOLAS CONS'I ANTINO I, BYHM} p wl A07), Y- Jhom wo-w THEIR ATTORNEYS METHOD AND APPARATUS FORTRANSFER RING ARTICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the automaticfilling and subsequent sealing of food containers and the like, suitableapparatus must be provided for transferring a cover member from a supplythereof to a particular filled container body so that such cover membercan be subsequently secured in place to seal closed that particularcontainer body.

SUMMARY This invention provides an improved method and apparatus fortransferring articles from one location thereof to another locationthereof, such as cover members for product field container bodies, etc.

One embodiment of the method and apparatus of this invention provides asupporting frame and a carrier supported by the frame and being movablerelative thereto in a fixed path from adjacent a first location toadjacent a second location for the purpose of transferring an articlefrom the first location to the second location. A pick-up device ismovably carried by the carrier to be movable relative thereto, thecarrier having means for extending the pick-up device therefrom when thepick-up device is adjacent the first station to pick-up an article atthe first location and thereafter retract the pick-up device adjacentthe first location. Means are provided for moving the carrier in thefixed path so that the carrier moves the pick-up device from adjacentthe first location to adjacent the second location. The carrier thenutilizes the previously described means for extending the pick-up deviceadjacent the second station for depositing the carried article at thesecond location and thereafter retracting the pick-up device adjacentthe second location so that the pick-up device can be moved back to thefirst location for picking upanother article in the same manner.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as being particularly adaptedfor serially transferringcover members from a stack thereof to the open ends of product filledcontainer bodies, it is to be understood that the various features ofthis invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof toprovide transferring apparatus for other articles as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Other details, uses and advantages of the invention will become apparentas the following description of the present preferred embodiment thereofin the accompanying drawings proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings show thepresent preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective and schematic view illustrating a completefilling and sealing apparatus for container bodies, such apparatusincluding the cover member transferring apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view, partially broken away,illustrating the completed container construction produced by theapparatus of FIG. I.

FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view illustrating the cover memberand container body before the cover member has been secured to the openend of the container body.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view takensubstantially on line 33 of FIG. I and illustrates the articletransferring apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG.3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially online 5-5 of FIG. 3 and illustrates part of the transferring apparatus incross section and other parts thereof in elevation.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the lower end of the cover member supply chuteof the apparatus of FIG. 3 and is taken substantially on line 6-6thereof.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3with one of the pick-up devices to be extended toward the cover memberchute and before the same engages against the lowermost cover memberthereof.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and illustrates the pick-up device inits fully extended position.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and illustrates the pick-up device asthe same is beginning its retracting operation.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and illustrates the final dispensingof the lowermost cover member from the supply chute of the transferringapparatus of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, anautomatic apparatus for filling and sealing container bodies with foodproducts and the like is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20and comprises a base or frame structure 21 rotatably carrying anindexible and rotatable conveyor or table 22 adapted to be indexed by arotatable shaft 23 so that container body receiving pockets 24 formed inthe rotatable table 22 can be indexed in a counterclockwise direction inFIG. 1 from a container body dispensing apparatus or station 25 to afirst product filling station or apparatus 26, a second product fillingstation or apparatus 27, the cover member transferring and cover membertack sealing station or apparatus 28 which forms the features of thisinvention, a cover member depression forming station or apparatus 29, acover member heat sealing station or apparatus 30 and a transfer stationor apparatus 31 wherein the covered and sealed container bodies aretransferredto a flange beading apparatus or station 32 for forming acurled annular bead about the sealed container body whereby thecompleted container constructions are adapted to be dispensed from thebeading apparatus 32 to a desired location by conventional conveyormeans 33.

The completed container construction made by the apparatus 20 of FIG. 1is generally indicated by the reference numeral 34 in FIG. 2 andcomprises a container body 35 filled with suitable product means 36 andsealed closed at its open end 37 by a cover member 38 which is heatsealed to an annular flange 39 of the container body 35 that surroundsthe open end 37 thereof and is together with the cover member 38suitably curled or beaded at 40 at a beading apparatus 32 of FIG. 1 tostrengthen the combined cover member 38 and annular flange 39 at theouter edge thereof.

However, the container body 35 utilized in 1 the pockets 24 of the table22 is best illustrated in FIG. 2A

wherein it can be seen that the annular flange 39 is originallysubstantially flat at the open end 37 of the container body 35 with thecontainer body 35 having a bowl portion 41 defining a bottom wall 42 andan arcuate side wall 43 which is arcuate in any transversecross-sectional configuration of the container body 35 between thebottom wall 42 and the flange 39. The cover member 38 as illustrated inFIG. 2A comprises a flat sheet of material.

If desired, the cooperating container body 35 and cover member 38 can bemade of metallic foil containing aluminum and having a coating or layerof heat sealable material defining the inside surfaces of the containerbody 35 and cover member 38 so that the cover member 38 can be heatsealed to the flat flange 39 of the container body 35 to seal closed theopen end 37 thereof.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the cover member transferring apparatus28 of this invention includes an L-shaped support member or frame 44having one leg 45 thereof secured at its lower end to the support orbase 21 of the rotatable table 22 and its other arm or leg 46 disposedin cantilevered fashion above the table 22 so as to be in the path ofmovement of the container body receiving pockets 24 of the table 22 aswill be apparent hereinafter. The arm 46 of the support 44 carriesstationary and opposed frame members 47 and 48 respectively supporting adrive shaft 49 rotatably supported therein in suitable bearings 50 andadapted to be driven in synchronized relation to driving movement of thedrive shaft 23 of the rotatable table 22 by suitable gearing or thelike.

While the rotatable table 22 has pairs of side-by-side container bodyreceiving pockets 24 so that the cover transferring apparatus 28 isadapted to simultaneously transfer two cover members 38 from adjacentstacks 51 thereof, it is to be understood that the features of thisinvention can be utilized for transferring cover members from only asingle stack thereof or a plurality of side-by-side stacks thereof inthe manner illustrated whereby only the mechanism for transferring covermembers 38 from one of the stacks 51 thereof for the apparatus 28 willbe described with the understanding that like structure and operation isprovided for the other stack 51 of container cover members 38.

A rotatable carrier 52 is secured to the shaft 49 to be rotated inunison therewith between the support frame members 47 and 48, thecarrier 52 having a plurality of flat surfaces 53 on the outer peripherythereof with the number of flat surfaces 53 being selected so thecarrier 52 can carry a pick-up device 54 on every other flat vacuum line58 when suitable valve 59 thereof is 8 opened to interconnect therespective vacuum line 58 to a drilled passage 60 in the shaft 49 thatleads to a rotary coupling 61 that is interconnected to a vacuum sourceconduit 62. Thus, when the particular valve 59 of the vacuum line 58 fora particular vacuum shoe 55 is opened, the source of vacuum isinterconnected to the interior of the vacuum shoe 55 so that a pressuredifferential is created across the flat surface 56 of the pick-up device54 which will retain a cover member 38 thereto and permit the covermember 38 to be carried by such vacuum shoe or pick-up device 54 from afirst station or location 63, FIG. 3, to a second station or location 64where the pickup device 54 is adapted to dispose the cover member 38carried thereby on the open end 37 of a product filled container body 35positioned at the station 64 by the rotatable table 22 as illustrated inFIG. 3. At such time, the valve 59 for the vacuum line 58 of theparticular vacuum shoe 54 is closed and through suitable bleed means(not shown) the chamber inside the shoe 55 returns to atmosphericcondition so that the cover member 38 releases from the surface 56thereof to remain on the container body 35 at the flat flange 39thereof.

Each vacuum shoe 55 has a plurality of rods 65 secured to the rearsurface 66 thereof and respectively passing through suitable openings 67in the carrier 52 which can be provided with suitable sleeve bearings 68to permit sliding movement of the rods 65 relative thereto. However,each rod 65 carries a compression spring 69 having one end 70 thereofbearing against a washer-like retainer 71 having the rod 65 passingtherethrough and abutting against the carrier 52 whereas the other end72 of the compression spring 69 bears against a large retainer 73carried or fixed on the rod 65 so that the force of the compressionsprings 69 tend to maintain their respective vacuum device 54 in itsinner or retracted position relative to the carrier 52 as illustrated inFIG. 5.

Each pick-up device 54 also includes an enlarged rod 74 passing througha suitable opening 175 in the carrier 52 having a sleeve bearing 176therein, the rod or member 74 being fastened to the under side 66 of theparticular vacuum shoe 54 and having its free end 75 bifurcated toreceive and secure a rotatable roller 76 therebetween. Each roller 76 isadapted to be engageable by a movable cam 77 carried by the stationarysupport frame 47 and provided with a slanting cam surface 78 which willbear against the roller 76 to cause the pick-up device 54 to be radiallyextended from the carrier 52 as the cam 77 is moved from left to rightin FIG. 5. The cam 77 for each vacuum pick-up device 54 isinterconnected to a piston rod 79 of a piston and cylinder arrangement80 carried by the support frame 47 so that when the piston and cylinderarrangement 80 is activated to extend its piston rod 79 thereof to theright in FIG. 5, the cam 77 is moved to the right in FIG. 5 to camagainst the roller 76 and thereby radially extend the particular pick-updevice 54 relative to the carrier 52 in opposition to the force of thecompression springs 69. Conversely, when such cam member 77 is retractedto the left in FIG. 5 from its previously described extended position bythe piston and cylinder arrangement 80, the vacuum pick-up device 54retracts toward the carrier 52 under the force of the compressionsprings 60 to the position illustrated in FIG. 5.

The support frame 47 carries an upper limit switch 81 and a lower limitswitch 82 which are respectively adapted to be actuated by an L-shapedarm 83 secured to the carrier 52 adjacent its respective pick-up device54 so that when the respective pick-up device 54 is disposed at thestation or location 63 beneath the stack 51 of cover members 38 asillustrated by the upper pick-up device 54 in FIG. 5, the actuated limitswitch 81 causes the piston and cylinder arrangement 80 to operate toextend the piston rod 79 to the right in FIG. 5 and, thereby, cam therespective pick-up device 54 radially upwardly to receive a cover member38 from the stack 51 in a manner hereinafter described.

The carrier 52 adjacent the shaft 49 has a plate 182 thereon whichcarries a plurality of limit switches 183 such that the limit switch 183for the particular vacuum shoe 54 being disposed at the station orlocation 63 is activated by an arm 84 carried by the stationary frame 47with the actuated limit switch 183 opening the valve 59 in the vacuumline 58 for the respective vacuum pick-up device 54 so that the vacuumpick-up device 54 has a vacuum imposed therein from the time the same isindexed to the station 63 until the same is subsequently indexed to thestation 64. At this time, the particular limit switch 183 is againengaged and activated by a lower stationary arm 84' which causes thelimit switch 183 to close the valve 59 in the vacuum line 58 of therespective vacuum shoe 54 at the station 64 to disconnect the vacuumsource therefrom.

The stroke of the upper piston and cylinder arrangement 80 can be socontrolled that when the piston rod 79 is completely extended to theright, the vacuum shoe 54 at the location or station 63 can be movedradially upwardly a sufficient distance to cause a dispensing from thestack 51 in a manner hereinafter described. However, such rightwardmovement of the piston rod 79 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 80illustrated in FIG. 5 can be terminated by a pin 85 carried by thepiston rod cam 77 engaging against another limit switch 86 carried by astationary arm 87 of the frame 47 which when activated will cause thepiston and cylinder arrangement 80 to retract and thereby move the cam77 back to the left. Such stationary arm 87 of the frame 47 also can beutilized to back-up the cam 77 during its back and forth movementrelative to the frame 47.

The lower switch 82 on the stationary frame 47 when activated by theL-shaped arm 83 of the carrier 52 that is associated with a respectivepick-up device 52, when that device 52 reaches the station 64 asillustrated in FIG. 5, controls a lower piston and cylinder arrangement80' which has its piston rod 79' interconnected to a cam member 77 thathas a sliding cam surface 78' for acting against the roller 76 of thepick-up device 54 at the station 64 in the same manner as the cam 77previously described. For example, with the limit switch 82 activated bythe arm 83 at the station 64, the cam member 77 is moved to the right tomove the pick-up device 54 vertically downwardly in opposition to theforce of the compression springs 69 so as to cause the cover member 38carried thereby to' be placed on the open end 37 of the container body35 disposed at the station 64. The extent of movement of the cam 77 tothe right in FIG. 5 can be controlled by the stroke of the piston andcylinder arrangement 80' or the same may be controlled by a limit switch86' being carried by a stationary arm 87' of the stationary frame 47 andbeing activated by a drive pin carried by the cam 77 in the same manneras the drive pin 85 previously described.

Simultaneously with the activation of the limit switch 82 by the arm 83for a particular vacuum device 52 being disposed at the station 64, thelimit switch 183 for the valve 59 of that particular vacuum device 52 atthe station 64 is actuated by the arm 84' to disconnect the vacuumsource from the vacuum shoe 55 so that the pick-up device 54 can releasethe cover member 38 being carried thereby.

The stack 51 of cover members 38 for the transfer device 28 includes achute structure 88 formed from a plurality of rods 89 secured to thecantilevered arm 46 of the stationary support frame 44 and having lowerends 90 defining a lower open end 91 of the chute structure 88 wherebythe stacks 51 of cover members 38 are adapted to be guided verticallydownwardly between the rods 89 to the lower open end 91 of the chute 88.However, a pair of opposed flange members 92 and 93 are carried by thechute structure 88 so as to extend inwardly over the open end 91 of thechute structure 88 for holding the stacks 51 of cover members 38 in thechute structure 88.

In particular, the flange member 92 for a respective stack 51 asillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6 extends inwardly over the open end 91 ofthe chute structure 88 only for a short distance whereas the flange 93at the opposed side of the open end 91 of the chute 88 ex tends inwardlya greater distance with the flange 92 being vertically spaced above theflange 93 so that the respective stack 51 of cover members 38 are tiltedat the open end 91 of the chute 88 as fully illustrated in FIG. 7.

Without imposing any limitation of this invention, and merely for thepurpose of illustration, it has been found that when the cover membersare formed of the aforementioned aluminum foil of approximately 0.0025of an inch thick, the higher flange 92 can extend inwardly over the openend 91 of the chute structure 88 approximately onesixteenth of an inchwhereas the flange 93 can extend inwardly across the open end 91 of thechute 88 for approximately one-quarter of an inch. With such dimensions,the upper flange 92 can be disposed approximately one-quarter of an inchabove the flange 93 in the vertical direction.

The operation of the article transferring apparatus and method 28 ofthis invention will now be described.

When the drive shaft 49 has indexed the carrier 52 so as to bring aparticular pick-up device 54 to the station or location 63 in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 7, at which time further rotation of the shaft 49and table 22 are momentarily stopped, the limit switches 81 and 183 areactuated respectively by the arms 83 and 84 so as to cause the upper cam77 to move to the right in FIG. 5 and cam the vacuum device 54 at thestation 63 vertically upwardly so that the same engages against thelowermost container 38 in the stack 51 in the chute 88 and move thestack 51 upwardly to right the same until the pick-up device 54 has beenfully extended from the carrier 52 as illustrated in FIG. 8. At thistime, the surface 56 of the extended pick-up device 54 has at least beenextended upwardly to cause the lowermost container 38 to be horizontallydisposed at the level of the upper flange 92 as illustrated in FIG. 8.Since the limit switch 183 has been actuated by the arm 84, the vacuumsource has been interconnected to the shoe 54 at the station 63 and thepressure differential acting across the lowermost cover member 38 at thesurface 56 of the extended pick-up device 54 causes the lowermost covermember 38 to be secured to the surface 56 of the pick-up device 54whereby subsequent retracting of the pick-up device 54 by deactuation ofthe piston and cylinder arrangement 80 causes the lowermost cover member38 to move vertically downwardly with the pick-up device 54 and, thus,force past the shorter flange 92 as illustrated in FIG. 9. However, asthe downward movement of the pick-up device 54 continues from theposition illustrated in FIG. 9 to the position illustrated in FIG. 10where the pick-up device 54 has not retracted sufficiently to carry thelowermost cover member 38 below the larger flange 91, the shaft 49begins to rotate the carrier 52 and, thus, the pick-up device 54 tothereby cause the vacuum attached and lowermost cover member 38 to movesideways from the flange 93 and be carried by the shoe 54 from thestation 63 toward the station 64 by the indexing carrier 52.

Of course, it can be seen that each indexing movement of the carrier 52in FIG. 3 in a counterclockwise direction is approximately 60 so thatthe cover members 38 are serially picked up at the chute 88 by thedevices 54 and are subsequently brought to the station 64 whereby when aparticular pick-up device 54 is brought to the station 64, the limitswitches 82 and 183 therefor are respectively actuated by the arms 83and 84 to cause the pick-up device 54 to be extended downwardly towardthe product filled container body 35 and place the cover member 38 onthe open end 37 thereof.

During such depositing of a cover member 38 on the open end 37 of aproduct filled container body 35, suitable mechanism can be utilized totack seal such cover member 38 to the container body 35 while thepick-up device 54 is disposed against the open end 37 of the containerbody 35, if desired.

In particular, reference is now made to FIG. 3 wherein suitable tacksealing structure 94 is provided on each side of a container body 35 atthe station 64 with each tack sealing structure 94 comprising arotatable rod 95 carrying one or more tack sealing members 96 thereonwhich have suitable ends 97 for engaging against the cover member 38and, through suitable heating means, tack seal the same to the flange 39of the container body 35 when such tack sealing members 96 have beenrotated by the rod 95 to the full line position illustrated in FIG. 3from their normally out of the way dotted line position illustrated inFIG. 3.

At the same time that the tack sealing members 96 are tack sealing thecover member 39 to the container body 35 as illustrated in FIG. 3, thevacuum device 54 at the station 64 can be retracted whereby the tacksealers 96 assure that the cover member 38 will be released from thesurface 56 thereon during such retracting movement of the pick-up device54 at the station 64.

Thus, the retracted pick-up device 54 at the station 64 is subsequentlyindexed by the carrier 52 back to the station 63 to. receive anothercover member 38 thereon to again be moved to the station 64.

Thus, it can be seen that this invention provides an improved method andapparatus for serially transferring articles from a first location to asecond location, such articles comprising cover members for closing theopen ends of product filled container bodies, if desired.

It is to be understood that while this invention has been described inconnection with a rotatable table 22, such embodiment of the conveyor 22is merely for the purpose of illustrating one type of conveyor that canbe utilized and is not for the purpose of placing any specificlimitations on this invention whereby it is to be further understoodthat the various features of this invention can be utilized with anyother type of suitable conveyor, such as a straight line conveyor whereeach operating station of the apparatus of FIG. 1 would be in an alignedrelation along such a straight line conveyor of the continuous belt typeor of other configuration and structure.

While a present preferred embodiment of the invention and method forpracticing the same has been illustrated and described, it will berecognized that the invention may be otherwise variously embodied andpracticed within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a container closing apparatus, a cover member transferring devicefor transferring a cover member from a first location to a secondlocation where a container body is to receive said transferred covermember for closing the same, said transferring device comprising asupport frame, a rotatable carrier supported by said frame and beingmovable relative thereto in a fixed substantially circular path fromadjacent said first location to adjacent said second location, a pick-updevice movably carried by said carrier for radially outward and inwardmovements relative thereto, said carrier having means for extending andretracting said pick-up device, said extending and retracting meansextending said pick-up device radially outwardly when said pickup deviceis adjacent said first location to pick up a cover member at said firstlocation and thereafter retract said pick-up device adjacent said firstlocation, and means for moving said carrier in said fixed path so thatsaid carrier moves said pick-up device from adjacent said first locationto adjacent said second location, said extending and retracting meansextending said pick-up device radially outwardly adjacent said secondlocation for depositing said cover member on a container body at saidsecond location and thereafter retract said pick-up device radiallyinwardly adjacent said second location, said cover member transferringdevice having a cover member storage device at said first location, saidstorage device having means for serially dispensing said cover membersto said pick-up device as said pick-up device is extended adjacent saidfirst location, said cover member storage device having a chute forreceiving a stack of said cover members, said chute having an open lowerend for serially dispensing said cover members from said stack thereofand having stationary means at said lower end for holding said stack sothat said cover members can be serially dispensed by said pick-updevice, said stationary means for holding said stack of cover members atsaid open lower end of said chute comprising a pair of fixed opposedsupports extending partly across said open end and on which thelowermost cover member of said stack rests at opposed ends thereof, saidopposed supports of said chute being vertically offset relative to eachother so that said stack of cover members is tilted relative to thehorizontal when resting on said supports.

2. in a container closing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, saidpick-up device when extended from said carrier adjacent said firstlocation engaging against the lowermost cover member at said open end ofsaid stack and moving said stack upwardly to untilt the same to at leastthe level of the higher support.

3. In a container closing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, saidpick-up device having means for securing said lowermost cover memberthereto at least when said pick-up device is fully extended adjacentsaid first location so that as said pickup device is subsequentlyretracted adjacent said first location, said lowermost cover member isforced past higher support at the respective end of said cover memberbefore the other end of said cover member clears the other support.

4. ln a container closing apparatus, a cover member transferring devicefor transferring a cover member from a first location to a secondlocation where a container body is to receive said transferred covermember for closing the same, said transferring device comprising asupport frame, a rotatable carrier supported by said frame and beingmovable relative thereto in a fixed substantially circular path fromadjacent said first location to adjacent said second location, a pick-updevice movably carried by said carrier for radially outward and inwardmovements relative thereto, said carrier having means for extending saidpick-up device radially outwardly therefrom when said pick-up device isadjacent said first location to pick up a cover member at said firstlocation and thereafter retract said pick-up device adjacent said firstlocation, and means for moving said carrier in said fixed path so thatsaid carrier moves said pick-up device from adjacent said first locationto adjacent said second location, said carrier having said means forextending said pick-up device operating to extend said pickup deviceradially outwardly adjacent said second location for depositing saidcover member on a container body at said second location and thereafterretract said pick-up device radially inwardly adjacent said secondlocation, said cover member transferring device having a cover memberstorage and supporting device at said first location, said storagedevice having a pair of vertically offset stationary supports forholding a vertically arranged stack of said cover members so that saidcover members are tilted relative to the horizontal when resting on saidstationary supports and with the lowermost cover member of said stackhaving its opposed ends resting on said stationary supports, saidpick-up device when extended from said carrier adjacent said firstlocation engaging against the lowermost cover member at said open end ofsaid stack and moving said stack upwardly to untilt the same to at leastthe level of the higher stationary support, said pick-up device havingmeans for securing said lowermost cover member thereto at least whensaid pick-up device is fully extended adjacent said first location sothat as said pick-up device is subsequently retracted adjacent saidfirst location said lowermost cover member is forced past said higherstationaly sppport at the respective end of said cover member urmg thefirst portion of retracting movement whereupon said moving means forsaid carrier commences rotation thereof prior to retraction of saidlowermost cover member past said other stationary support to therebyutilize said rotation to extract the other end of said cover member frombetween the other stationary support and on adjoining cover member.

1. In a container closing apparatus, a cover member transferring devicefor transferring a cover member from a first location to a secondlocation where a container body is to receive said transferred covermember for closing the same, said transferring device comprising asupport frame, a rotatable carrier supported by said frame and beingmovable relative thereto in a fixed substantially circular path fromadjacent said first location to adjacent said second location, a pick-updevice movably carried by said carrier for radially outward and inwardmovements relative thereto, said carrier having means for extending andretracting said pick-up device, said extending and retracting meansextending said pick-up device radially outwardly when said pick-updevice is adjacent said first location to pick up a cover member at saidfirst location and thereafter retract said pick-up device adjacent saidfirst location, and means for moving said carrier in said fixed path sothat said carrier moves said pickup device from adjacent said firstlocation to adjacent said second location, said extending and retractingmeans extending said pick-up device radially outwardly adjacent saidsecond location for depositing said cover member on a container body atsaid second location and thereafter retract said pick-up device radiallyinwardly adjacent said second location, said cover member transferringdevice having a cover member storage device at said first location, saidstorage device having means for serially dispensing said cover memberSto said pick-up device as said pick-up device is extended adjacent saidfirst location, said cover member storage device having a chute forreceiving a stack of said cover members, said chute having an open lowerend for serially dispensing said cover members from said stack thereofand having stationary means at said lower end for holding said stack sothat said cover members can be serially dispensed by said pick-updevice, said stationary means for holding said stack of cover members atsaid open lower end of said chute comprising a pair of fixed opposedsupports extending partly across said open end and on which thelowermost cover member of said stack rests at opposed ends thereof, saidopposed supports of said chute being vertically offset relative to eachother so that said stack of cover members is tilted relative to thehorizontal when resting on said supports.
 2. In a container closingapparatus as set forth in claim 1, said pick-up device when extendedfrom said carrier adjacent said first location engaging against thelowermost cover member at said open end of said stack and moving saidstack upwardly to untilt the same to at least the level of the highersupport.
 3. In a container closing apparatus as set forth in claim 2,said pick-up device having means for securing said lowermost covermember thereto at least when said pick-up device is fully extendedadjacent said first location so that as said pick-up device issubsequently retracted adjacent said first location, said lowermostcover member is forced past higher support at the respective end of saidcover member before the other end of said cover member clears the othersupport.
 4. In a container closing apparatus, a cover membertransferring device for transferring a cover member from a firstlocation to a second location where a container body is to receive saidtransferred cover member for closing the same, said transferring devicecomprising a support frame, a rotatable carrier supported by said frameand being movable relative thereto in a fixed substantially circularpath from adjacent said first location to adjacent said second location,a pick-up device movably carried by said carrier for radially outwardand inward movements relative thereto, said carrier having means forextending said pick-up device radially outwardly therefrom when saidpick-up device is adjacent said first location to pick up a cover memberat said first location and thereafter retract said pick-up deviceadjacent said first location, and means for moving said carrier in saidfixed path so that said carrier moves said pick-up device from adjacentsaid first location to adjacent said second location, said carrierhaving said means for extending said pick-up device operating to extendsaid pick-up device radially outwardly adjacent said second location fordepositing said cover member on a container body at said second locationand thereafter retract said pick-up device radially inwardly adjacentsaid second location, said cover member transferring device having acover member storage and supporting device at said first location, saidstorage device having a pair of vertically offset stationary supportsfor holding a vertically arranged stack of said cover members so thatsaid cover members are tilted relative to the horizontal when resting onsaid stationary supports and with the lowermost cover member of saidstack having its opposed ends resting on said stationary supports, saidpick-up device when extended from said carrier adjacent said firstlocation engaging against the lowermost cover member at said open end ofsaid stack and moving said stack upwardly to untilt the same to at leastthe level of the higher stationary support, said pick-up device havingmeans for securing said lowermost cover member thereto at least whensaid pick-up device is fully extended adjacent said first location sothat as said pick-up device is subsequently retracted adjacent saidfirst location said lowermost cover member is forced pasT said higherstationary support at the respective end of said cover member during thefirst portion of retracting movement whereupon said moving means forsaid carrier commences rotation thereof prior to retraction of saidlowermost cover member past said other stationary support to therebyutilize said rotation to extract the other end of said cover member frombetween the other stationary support and on adjoining cover member.